In light of the murders of two high profile Catholics leaders who
strongly believed in inter-religious dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis
Tauran is emphasizing the value of communication for peaceful
coexistence.
Bishop Luigi Padovese, the leader of Catholics in Turkey, was stabbed
to death in June 2010 in the city of Iskenderun by his chauffeur, Murat
Altun, under circumstances that are still under investigation.
Authorities immediately said that the murder was not
politically-motivated. Local Catholics continue to appeal for a legal
process to take its course to discover Altun's true motivation.
Religious extremism has not been discarded.
Cardinal Tauran was on hand March 4 at Franciscans' Pontifical
Antonianum University in Rome to help with the inauguration of a new
professorship for spirituality and inter-religious dialogue in memory of
Bishop Luigi Padovese.
The French cardinal, who is the head of the Vatican's council for
inter-religious dialogue, spoke about seeking “genuine” relations and
mutual understanding between religions and cultures during his address
at the "Antonianum."
After the event held in Bishop Padovese's memory, he spoke of the
murder of another Catholic who was committed to improving
Christian-Muslim relations.
Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for religious minorities, was
assassinated by Muslim extremists in Islamabad, Pakistan on March 2.
His
opposition to the country's “blasphemy law,” which is designed to
prevent any offense to Islam or its prophet Muhammad, put him on
extremists' radars.
Christians are frequently the victims of false
accusations under the law, as Muslims seek to get even with those they
hold grudges against.
Bhatti was aware that his life was in danger. Salman Taseer, the
Muslim governor of Punjab, was murdered in January for opposing the same
federal law, which carries the punishment of death or life in prison.
Cardinal Tauran's voice was filled with sadness as he recalled Bhatti's murder. “Evil,” he said, was behind the killing.
Al-Qaida and the Pakistani Taliban Movement claimed responsibility
for his brutal murder.
His body was reportedly riddled with between 25
and 35 bullets.
Cardinal Tauran remembered the last time he met with the minister. It
was just before Christmas, when he paid him a visit in Pakistan.
They
had met with moderate Muslims to speak about religious liberty and
solidarity during his three-day trip.
Just before the cardinal boarded a flight back to Rome, Bhatti told
him, “I know I will die assassinated, but I am happy for the truths of
Christ and inter-religious dialogue.”
His murder shocked the world, but especially local Christians in
Pakistan.
The nation's bishops have already pledged to pursue his cause
for martyrdom in Rome.
For his part, Cardinal Tauran will preside over a
memorial Mass for him in Rome on March 6.
He was a champion for equal rights and religious freedom. Like Bishop
Padovese in Turkey, Bhatti tirelessly promoted communication between
Islam and Christianity to achieve peaceful coexistence and solidarity
between citizens.
Cardinal Tauran suggested that the threat of being misunderstood
exists everywhere. Even in Europe, he told reporters, there is a threat
of “Christianophobia.”
“We shouldn't be disillusioned,” he said. “Christianity has always
been combated because Christ 'disturbs'.”
He said that Christian values
and evangelization are “in contradiction” to a prevailing secular
mentality in many parts of the world.
Christians “must not accept these circumstances” of persecution,
“because they are occasions for us to give witness,” said the cardinal.
Even in places where Christians are small percentage of the
population, “we need to have the courage to say that even though we are
often in the minority, we are a minority that counts.”
The cardinal offered his solidarity with Pakistani Christians, who,
“feel completely unprotected” after Bhatti's murder. It is a situation
where, “for the moment, the dark side dominates,” he said.
Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, expressed his gratitude to
both Bhatti and Taseer in his weekly Vatican television editorial.
“Both,” he said, “were killed for the same reason: because they opposed
the blasphemy law, a law that is truly blasphemous in itself, because it
is the cause of injustice and death in the name of God.”
Their assassinations "paradoxically also inspire a bit of hope
because they associate a Muslim (Taseer) and a Christian (Bhatti) in
blood spilled for the same cause," he said.
"It is no longer only dialogue of mutual knowledge or dialogue in
common commitment for the good of people. From dialogue in life they
pass on to a dialogue of their witness in death ... so that the name of
God it is not twisted into an instrument of injustice," the cardinal
reflected.
Cardinal Tauran noted that he is seeing “steps forward” in
inter-religious dialogue worldwide.
One area is a wider acceptance and
appreciation for Catholic schools.
He recounted the example of a diplomat from a majority Muslim
population who approached him recently to say thank you for the Catholic
education he received.
'Everything I know, I know thanks to you ... and
I must say that I was never the object of proselytism.'
"I think it's the most beautiful comment that could be made," said Cardinal Tauran.
During his address earlier, the cardinal noted some obstacles to a
true understanding of Christianity. For example, he underscored the
ongoing problem that some history schoolbooks in the Muslim world refer
to Christians as “unbelievers.” Such references, he said, are “not OK.”
Believers are called to promote an authentic solidarity, a peaceful coexistence and inter-cultural dialogue, said the cardinal.
By working together and promoting mutual understanding, all believers
in one God can work together in a world that has “too many gods,” he
said.
The monotheistic religions have a responsibility to propose a
united front, said the Vatican's head for inter-religious relations.
“We
believers, especially Jews, Christians and Muslims, have this mission
to remember with the coherence of our lives that 'man doesn't live by
bread alone'.”
The cardinal hoped that Pope Benedict XVI's Day of Prayer for Peace
planned for Assisi next October will be an opportunity for another step
forward.
The Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue plays an
important role in organizing and preparing for the event.
“We hope that this is also inspirational,” said Cardinal Tauran.
“Between dialogue or barbarity, we choose dialogue.”